Guilty Plea in Spy Case By Defense Employee

ALEXANDRIA, VA. — A Defense Department analyst pleaded guilty yesterday to charges alleging he gave classified information about American and Taiwanese military communications systems to a businessman working with the Chinese government.

Gregg Bergersen, a weapons analyst at the Defense Security Cooperation Agency who held top secret security clearances, was arrested last month. Prosecutors alleged he divulged military secrets to a New Orleans furniture salesman, Tai Kuo, who turned over the information to the Chinese government.

Bergersen, 51, of Alexandria, pleaded guilty yesterday to a single count of conspiring to communicate national defense information to a person not entitled to receive it. He faces up to 10 years in prison when sentenced on June 20.

The government says Bergersen received thousands of dollars in cash from Mr. Kuo since March 2007. It said Bergersen thought Mr. Kuo was closely affiliated with the Taiwan Ministry of Defense, and was unaware that Mr. Kuo also maintained contact with an official of the Beijing government.

Some of the weapons information passed between Bergersen and Mr. Kuo related to Taiwan's new air defense system. Taiwanese military officials have said the disclosures caused some damage but did not compromise key technology.